Indians hit 11 doubles, 2 HRs in 15-3 romp over Athletics

Oakland Athletics' Dustin Fowler crashes into the wall as he tries to catch a line drive double by Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 1, 2018, in Oakland, Calif.Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

Lindor homered and hit two of the Indians’ 11 doubles Sunday as they ended the Oakland Athletics’ six-game winning streak with a 15-3 romp.

“It was really good,” Lindor said. “Hopefully it’ll keep us in the right direction. Guys felt very comfortable today in the box. Hopefully we can carry that approach to tomorrow’s game.”

Edwin Encarnacion also homered and Jose Ramirez, Yonder Alonso and Lonnie Chisenhall each added two doubles. The Indians nearly matched the team record of 12 doubles set against Minnesota in 1996.

“We kept the line moving,” manager Terry Francona said. “We hit the ball the other way, we hit the ball through the hole, we went first to third. That’s a good recipe for us. They’re grinding and grinding so it’s nice to have something to show for it.”

Alonso had four hits and three RBIs. Cleveland broke open the game with an eight-run eighth inning — its first 10 batters reached without an out.

Mike Clevinger (7-3) allowed three runs over six uneven innings as the AL Central leaders avoided a sweep.

Cleveland led 5-3 before its big eighth, getting five singles, two doubles, two walks and a hit batter before the A’s recorded an out. When Yan Gomes hit a comebacker to pitcher Josh Lucas for the first out, the Coliseum crowd of 16,164 erupted in mock cheers.

Khris Davis had two hits for the A’s. Oakland had won 12 of 14 going into the day, but left the bases loaded in the first and struggled to get much going after that.

“It’s unfortunate that this game got completely out of hand for us because the guys felt great about not only playing well but coming back,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “We had some good at-bats and then it just got a little out of hand.”

The Indians were outscored 10-3 in the first two games of the series and were on the verge of being swept for the second time this season before breaking out against A’s starter Frankie Montas (4-2) and four relievers.

Lindor struck out in his first at-bat, doubled in his next two and hit his 21st home run in the seventh. The Indians leadoff hitter later drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.

Encarnacion also homered in the seventh, his 20th this season.

THIS AND THAT

Cleveland’s 13 extra-base hits are the most in the majors in a game this season. . The Indians are 7-1 when facing a sweep in the final game of a series. . Mark Canha has a 10-game hitting streak for Oakland.

DEFENSIVE DOINGS

Chisenhall made a diving catch at the right-field foul line on Chad Pinder’s sinking fly ball to end a bases-loaded threat in the first inning. Center fielder Rajai Davis made an equally impressive diving catch on Jed Lowrie’s liner in the third, then threw back to the infield and the Indians completed an 8-4-3 double play.

When my assistant said there was a call from the White House, I picked up, said 'Hello' and started to ask if this was a prank

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